Governing mechanism for elastic-fluid turbines.



3 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

F. SAMUELSON. VERNING MECHANISM FOR ELASTIC FLUID TURBINBS.

imesse n O 5 V., H w FHQ 06 ms e m W me d W F v/ B PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

F SAMUELSON. G MECHANISM FOR ELASTIC FLUID TURBINES.

GOVERNIN AEPLIGATION FILED MAY 92,1905.

(1 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

@nvantor Fmdemck Samueson V 3z@-,@ g;

A may PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

P. SAMUELSON.

GOVERNING MBGHA SM FOR E TIC FLUID TURBINES.

AP ATION Flynn 24.1905.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 3 j 4 ih i i z Inventor": FrederickSamuelson,

y I A -y.

Witnesses FREDERICK. SAMUELSON,

or RUGBY, ENGLAND,

or 516E,

ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CURPORA ION OF NEW YORK.

GOVERNING MECHANlSM F'OR ELASTHD FLUii-J Specification of Letters Patent.

TURBlNES.

Eatented Feb. 19, 1907.

Application filed May 24, 1905 Serial No. 261,927.

To ftwhom, it natty concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK SAMUEL- son, a sub ect of the King of Sweden, rosiding' at Rugby, England, have invented cotain new and useful Improven'ients in Governing Mechanism for Elastic-Fluid T urbines, or which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to elasticdluid turbines in which the governing is efl'ected by varying the number of inlet nozzles or passages of the turbine by means of electromagnetically-controlled valves and in this man-- ner varying the volume of fluid admitted to the turbine without, however, varying its velocity.

In governing mechanism of this kind as hitherto employed the constructions have been such as to make it ditlicult to gain ac cess to the working parts of the mechanism for examination, repairs, or adjustment. in fact, it has only been ossible to do so by breaking a large num er of steam-joints, thereby involving'the expenditure of considerable time and labor in packing these joints. so as to render them fluid-tight.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these dilliculties by providing a simple construction in which the valves and other parts of the controlling mechanism may be readily taken'apart, and this with the minimum of opening of steam-joints.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure l is a sectional elevation of a valve and its operating and control! mechanism. Fig. 2 is a detail view, on an en larged scale, of part of the valve meohanism, shown constructed according to a modiiicm tion; andFig. 3 is a plan view of the valve chest or casing with the magnets removed.

Incarrying thisinvention into efi'ect, Iprovide a suitable valve-casing 1, which may be of cylindrical or other suitable 'form and adapted to be secured at its lower end to a turbine-casing above the inlet-nozzles. The lower end ofthis chamber has formed in it a passage 2, which connects with one or more.

inlet-nozzles or I nozzle-sections of the turbine. The top of this passage is fitted w th a removable seat 3 for a valve 4, which con trols the opening between the interior of the and carries its upper end a piston 6, fitting a cylinder 7 i Above this piston and separated therefrom by a controlling-spring S, centered on a pin 9, which is screwed into the piston, is a removable plug 10, the latter being in line with the piston. and scripted into the head of the casing or chest. When the pin 9 movesu ward with the piston, it loosely enters tie opening-in the disk above it and restricts the escape of steam. This causes a certain amount of steam be trapped between the piston and the c linder-head, which acts as a cushion for the piston and valves The plug is slightly larger in diameter than the piston and is bored out centrally to receive a removable gland ii, through the center of which passes a pilot or relay valve spindle 12. This valve-spindle surrounded at its u per end by a small controlling-spring 13, w iich is located between the top of the gland-and a collar 14. secured to the top of the spindle. The top of the valve-casing supports on suitably-arranged columns 1:; a magnetic core structure 16, which carries the exciting-solenoids 17 of the electromagnetic controlling mechanism of the valve. net is of the iron-clad type and has its solenoid arranged round a central core 18, forma guide for a plun er 19, fitted at its upper end with a di nature 20. The lower Hill of this piuuge; situated directly above the stem oi the aivc $21 and is horwally out 01 cont -"i-with, so that when the solermid s it operates on the pilot-valve w lHHiPF-llitlt'f, so as to a dc'iinitc of the valve. The

, u is lessened by a conii'iicrposed between the k the to of the gland 1, which spring p i to lioldthe armature 20 normal of contact with the top of the QlOCiI{)ili:t,-jili.

The interior oi the chamber is connected to the main steam or U'LEGL 'lluid supply for the turbii e and at its upper end is formed with a pa. sage 23 in free communication with an opening 24-. drilled through the removable plug 10 into the center ol' the space occupied by the removable gland H; The bottom of this space is tilled by a small disk 25, held in position by the gland, and this disk has drilled centrally through it an opening 26,.

rollingspriug registering with the opening above referred This electromagin the top of the chamber-casing.

to in the removable plug. The'up'per end of' this opening forms a seat for the conical extremity of the pilot-valve 21. Between the lower extreniit of the gland llan'd the up.-

'space between the plug and the main-valve- IS operating piston 6. 'I he pilot valve stem above the recessed end of the gland is reduced, as shownfso that an annular space 29 is formed within the gland, which space communicates by side openings 30, drilled through the gland and plug surrounding it with an annular channel 31, communicating with an opening 32 for receiving a pipe adapted to be coupled to the exhaust or condenser of the turbine. 'I he pilot-valve is normally held 2 5 against its upper seat by its controlling spring 13,. so that it cuts 0% the connection between the atmosphere or condenser and the interior. of the recess. In this position of the stem the conical end thereof is raised 011' 3 the sea formed at the upper end of the passage 26 in the disk 25, and steam-pressure, as above "escribed, side of the piston 6, attached to and operating the main valve. In this condition of affairs the steam-pressures on both sides of the piston are practically balanced, the main or nozzle valve being kept on its seat by the difference in pressure existing on the two sides of the valve aswell as by the action 01* the 2 o spring 8. When, however, the governor causes the solenoid 17 to be energized, the pilot-valve stem 12 is given a hammer-blow and forced downward by the plunger, so that its conical extremity becomes seated on the top of the passage 26, thereby cutting oii 5 communication between the passages 23 24 and recess 27 and the cylinder-space 7 above the piston 6 and establishing communication between the cylinder-space 7 and the 5 Q-uvacuum or exhaust through the vertical passage 28 in the plug 10 and disk 25, the recess 27 in the gland, the annular space 29 surrounding the pilot-valve stein, and the side openings 30 in the gland and plug, annular passage 31, and pipe 32, which cornmunicates with the exhaust or condenser. In this way the pressure above the piston 6 is relieved and the steam-pressure acting on the under side of the piston causes the main valve 4 to open and admit storm to the turbine-nozzles. The main valve returns to its seat when the cleetromagnet is deiineigized, so to allow the pilotvalve stem to lift. due to the pressure thereon and the spring 13, and reestablish communication between the rib engaging with a hole or slot in the top is admitted to the upper 35, screwed into the casing and bearing against shoulders 3Y5; roiined .on the plug The outside diameter of the lower end of the plug is of smaller diameter than the aperture in the casing through which it passes, thereby leaving an annular passage 37, corresponding to and for the same purpose as passage 23 in Fig. 1. Instead of formingthe cylinder- Wall integral with the plug it be separate therefrom and suitably connected. In this modification the valve 21 is single-ended and controls only the passage of fluid from the chamber in the main-valve casing to the annular space "29 around the relay-valve 9 stem. The passage 26 in the disk 25 is controlled by a separate valve 38, which may be entirely disconnected from the valve 21, or the valve 21 may have a projecting pin or off the valve 38 to keep it in alinement.

hen it is desired not to operate the valve with a hammer-blow, the spring 22 maybe omitted, in which case the upper end of the ilot-valve rod 12'will be attached to the colar 39, the latter engaging a collar 440 on the lunger 19. In this case the spring 12 has to e made strong enough to sustain the weight of the armature 20 and plunger or red 19 and also to hold the valve 21 on its seat when the electromagnet is deenergizedl The operation of the modification illustrated in Fig. 2 is the same as described above with reference to the first modification, except that the valve 38 instead of being posi tively raised by the valve-rod 12 when the electromagnet is deenergized is forced upward by the-fluid-pressure acting on its under side as soon as the pressure on its upper side is relieved by the'opening of the valve 21. The construction, hown inFig. 2 possesses v certain advantages over the construction shown in Fig. 1 in the Way of mechanical construction, the principal advantages being that the cylinders for the ntotor-pistonsfor actuating the valves are formed in separate pieces, which pieces may readily berenioved,', rel-cred, &c., as occasion deirands. The cyl-j. inders having relatively thin walls are not liable to be distorted and cause the valves to stick at intermediate points. The valves and their operating pistons or motors have an open and a closed position, but no intermediate; Afurther advantage resides in the fact that the springs 8, which assist in closing. the

ICD

'and steaur-light joint and one that is free .om packing. The feature of rerroving the through the Wall of the casing is prein both cases and is a most inpOrtant one,

In Fig". 3 s shown a partial plan view of i I the valve chest or casing with the magnets or.

solenoids "ror operatingthe pilot or relay valves removed. 4]. represents the conduit which admits fluid to the chamber within the valve-casing, the said chamber supplying liuid to all of the nozzles or nozzle-sections, as shown in Fig, l. The ipes 42, connected to the scr v-threaded orihces 32, Fig. 1, may

connected together or they may be connected individually to a suitable exhaust.

instead of having all of the nozzle-valves mounted in common casing I may in son-c tanees provide each valve with an indiual casinghaving it suitable inlet. The r-ozzzlo-valv may control the initial admisi of steam or other fluid to the turbi e, or they may cont .0 passage of fluid from one.stzig'e to one in a multistage machine. Some or all of the stages may be valved desired.

The 1 .ognets are connected to suitable cireuitavires and contacts, and the supply of current thereto is made and broken by one or more suitable contact cylinders or switches, the latter being connected to and moved by a device responding to speedchanges ol' the ,main shalt which carries the wheel-buclcets the latter abstracting the velocity oi the l'luld discharged bv the nozzles 44. One or more rows of wheel-buckets may be provided for each stage, and where more than a single row provided intern'iediatc buckets are employed between the rows to-properly reand directthe motive lluid against the buckets. The intermediate buckets may be statirmary or rotary, as desired.

1 have sho W11 the pilot or relay valves as being operated by electroimagnetic means;

t they may be operated mechanically or other suitable arrangements.

in accordance with the provisions ol' the 1 \dliat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is" vi 1. ln a valve mochanisin lor turbines, the combination of a main valve, a casing therefor, a pilot-valve, a removable plug littcd in the casing and in line with the main valve, a iiilot-valvc located within the plug, anda means for operating the pilot-valve with a luunmcr-blrm:

2. In a valve mechanism for turbines, the combination of a main valve, a casing there for, a pilot-valve, a removable plug fitted in the casing and in axial a-linemcnt with the main valve, a gland located in the plug which acts as a guide for the stem of the pilot-valve, the said stem alining with the axis of the main valve, and a means for actuating the pilotv alvc. i

3. In a valve mechanism for turbines, the combination of a main valve, an actuatingp'stou, a casing for the valve, a removable plug fitted in the casing and provided with an extension forming a cylinder fortho piston a pilot-valve carried by the plug lor controlling the passage of lluid to and from the cylinder, and a means for actuating the pilotvalve.

4,. In a valve mechanism for elastic-fluid turbines, the combination ol a. casing, a valve located therein, a piston lor actuating the valve, a removable plug located in line with "the piston and of larger diameter than the piston so that the latter can be removed through the plug-opening, a pilot valve located within the plug, and removable therewith for controlling the movements of the pisltou, and amcans 'l'or actuating the pilotva vc.

5. in a valve mechanism for elastic-fluid turbines, the combination ol a casing, a valve located therein, a piston for actuating the valve. a removable plug located in line with the piston and ol larger diameter than the piston so that the latter can be removed through the plug-opening, a scl'cwdlireadcd means for securing the plug in place, a pilotvalve for controlling the movements of the piston located within and removable with the plug, and a means for opening and closing the pilot-valve with a lianuucr-blow to control the action of the piston and its valve.

(3. in a valve mechanism for elastic-fluid turbines, the combination of a casing, a valve located therein, a piston for actuating the valve, a removable plug located in line With the piston and of larger diameter than the piston so that the latter can be removed through the plug-opening, a shoulder for supporting the plug in a. nmnncr to minimize the cll'ccts of distortion, and a means for opening and closing the pilot-valvo to control the action 01 the piston and its valve.

7. ln a valve mechanism for elastic-thud turbines, the combination of a casing, a, valve located therein, a piston tor actuating the valve, a removable plug located-in. line with the pis on and of longer diameter than the piston so that the latter can be removed through the lug-opening, a cylinder-for the piston carrieil by the plug, the cylinder being of smaller diametebthan the plug-opening, means for alining and securing the plug in place, and mechanism for controlling the .movements of thepiston and its attached "valve.

8. in a valve mechanism for elastic-fluid turbines, the combination of a casing, a valve located therein, a piston for actuating the valve, a removable plug located in line with the pistonanclof larger diameter than the piston so that the latter can be removed 7 through the Fug-opening, a cylinder for the pistoncarrie by the plug, the cylinder being of smaller diameter than the plug-opening, means for alining and securing the plug in place, a controlling-spring located within the cylinder and between the. head and the piston and mechanism for controlling the movements of the pistonand its attached valves.

Ina valve mechanism for turbines, the I combination ofa valveasmg,:.a plurality of valvesarranged therein, pistons for .operat ing the Flugs located in linewith the pi arger diameter to permit rem valves, individual and removable tons ilot-valves loeated'in and carrieclh" the plugs and means for controlling the movements of the PllO F-Vfi-lVB S."

10. In a governing mechanism for turbines, the combination of a main valve,- :1 pis- FREDERICK Sm thson.

Witnesses: ERNEST HARKER,

ETHEL WEBB. 

